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Welcome to the Fungal Infection Trust fundraising page

The FIT is trying to raise £130,000 to fund a programme of research to understand the genetics of fungal illnesses. We have evidence that indicates genetics is involved, but we need to take this research into the next stage – if we understand what role genetics plays in getting this disease – we hope to achieve better outcomes and improve the quality of life for thousands of people.
On this website, you will find the details for past and upcoming fundraising campaigns – including details of how to contribute. If you would like to get involved in fundraising for FIT, please see our contact page for how to do this.

Upcoming events

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My story

My step-dad Derek Campbell, a 51-year-old non-smoker, was diagnosed last year with a rare and incurable lung condition called Chronic Pulmonary Aspergillosis.

Chronic Pulmonary Aspergillosis (CPA) affects 3 million people around the world, but is very often mis-diagnosed and confused with other health problems such as cancer or tuberculosis. Treatment of CPA is most often using antifungal drugs, which can be effective in limiting the advance of the disease though cannot cure it.

Unfortunately, Derek has been found to have a very complicated case affecting both lungs and it is inoperable. He receives antifungal therapy to try and slow the infection down, but has already found to be resistant to one of the main medications used to treat the condition.

This is why even although I’m not a runner I have chosen this challenge to try and raise funds for the charity FIT (Fungal Infection Trust), in the hope that with further research and awareness one day a cure may be found. If you can help in even the smallest way it would be very much appreciated.

Thank you,
Gemma

Donate to Gemma’s cause here:

December 22, 2017

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Thanks to our brilliant fundraisers the Fungal Infection Trust has raised over £12000 from individual donors and events in 2017. This money forms a vital extra fund that supports our research and educational projects.

December 5, 2017

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Hi, thanks for visiting my page. Through Virgin Money Giving, you can sponsor me and donations will be quickly processed and passed to charities. Virgin Money Giving is a not for profit organisation and will claim gift aid on a charity’s behalf where the donor is eligible for this. I really appreciate all your support and thank you for any donations.

I’m fundraising for the Fungal Infection Trust because, unsexy topic though it is, I’ve been living for the last few years with a condition I had never ever heard of, and I doubt you have either – aspergillosis. Aspergillus is a fungus that’s everywhere but can opportunistically cause allergy or infection to people with some kinds of vulnerability. Mine appears to be genetic, and managing my condition takes about 90 minutes each day, with nebulised medicines and very precise chest drainage physio. Running is my salvation – I loved it anyway but now i do it to keep as well as I can. I’m also very lucky to be well enough to have a good baseline, lots of friends from my Aspergillosis community are less fortunate. I’m also helped by 2 amazing NHS hospitals – Royal Brompton where I am a patient and where i recently spent 11 days having intravenous antibiotics – an occasional hazard of my condition, made all the more hazardous by proximity to the clothes shops of the King’s Road Chelsea. And the Wythenshawe in Manchester which is the national centre of excellence for this condition and where a lot of patient support initiatives are run, which people with aspergillosis anywhere in the world can tap into. So – my life has changed beyond recognition, and some of my future aspirations are a bit in doubt due to this condition, but I’m still here – and thanks to my ultra boost of antibiotics recently, I’m hoping to run 10k. Please donate, as fungal infection is on the rise worldwide – perhaps due to climate change (disclaimer – I’m not 100% sure on that), and it is a scary thing to deal with.

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Our mum sadly passed away this year from the disease called “Aspergillus”.

Many people are not aware of this disease and it can be difficult to diagnose.

Although our mum had other illnesses the chances of her being cured were highly unlikely. However, had she had seen specialists who are experts in this disease and her final months may have been made more pleasant for her with special medication.

Although she was 83 she lived her life to the full, was very on trend and looked after herself and her home with pride.

We want to raise awareness for FIT / Fungal Infection Trust for their research into Aspergillus and help people who suffer from this illness

She has left a massive void in our lives and we shall always miss her deeply xx

Recent Events

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Roger Ryder’s wife Ruth organised a collection in aid of the Fungal Infection Trust in Memory of Roger who died in August 2017 of aspergillosis. Incredibly that collection has now exceeded £4500 which must serve as a reminder of how much Roger was loved by everyone he knew and missed by all.

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John Masson held a cycling personal challenge in August 2017 and raised £850 for the Fungal Infection Trust in memory of his niece Steph Smith who passed away suddenly from a form of aspergillosis. Steph would have been 30 on the day of the challenge (August 19th) and is clearly still much missed by family and friends.

This fundraiser is the latest of several run by Stephs family that have raised tens of thousands of pounds for the Fungal Infection Trust.

Many thanks for your efforts John, the money will go into our funds to support fungal research.

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15 cyclists, led by Darren McNeil travelled through 5 countries in 5 days. The “Z to Z” Tour departed from Zurich in Switzerland on September 9th and ended in Zeebrugge in Belgium via Germany, France, and Luxembourg – a distance of 650 miles.

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Darren McNeil is to take on another challenge in aid of the Fungal Infection Trust. In September 2017 he will cycle from Zurich to Zeebrugge across 5 countries in 5 days: Darren comments:

In September I will be embarking on another cycling challenge following on from my Blackpool – Paris, Paris – Nice trips in 2013 and 2015.

This time the 15 cyclists and “our man in ‘avana” will traverse through 5 countries in 5 days.

Our “Z to Z” Tour Departs from Zurich in Switzerland on September 9th and ends in Zeebrugge in Belgium via Germany, France and Luxembourg – a distance of 650 miles.

The trip is a personal experience that I pay for myself but as on previous tours I have set myself the challenge of raising some money for The Fungal Infection Trust – the charity which funds research into Aspergillosis which is what my wife Lisa suffers from.

With the advent of Brexit the former EU funding that a lot of the research and treatment depended on has been stopped and so any money raised is wholeheartedly appreciated by the trust and by us personally.

Thanks for visiting my page and if you can donate any amount thank you very much.

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Jackie Cormie very sadly passed away in May 2017 and in her memory her daughter Kirsty is to raise money for the Fungal Infection Trust by competing in her first triathlon in July 2017. Triathlon is an arduous event involving a 1500m swim, 40km cycle and 10km run so it will require enormous determination for Kirsty to complete this challenge. Support her and Jackie’s memory by donating using the link below.

Kirsty’s words follow:

Jackie Cormie 22/10/1953 – 20/05/2015

Thank you for visiting my fundraising page.

Aspergillus is a terrible, debillitating lung infection to which my beloved mum tragically lost her life in May 2015.

My mum is greatly missed by many every day, and in her memory I would like to raise some money for The Fungal Infection Trust to support research into new treatments for this condition. My mum was the kindest person and loved all animals so I would also like donate to the Tree of Life for Animals project in India which provides treatment, love and compassion to the thousands of owner less animals that reside on India’s streets.

I will be competing in my first ever triathlon in July 2017.

I know my mum will be looking down on me thinking I am mad, but I know she will be with me the whole way.
Any donations would be greatly appreciated xxxxx

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Individual donors have raised over £4500 for the Fungal Infection Trust in the 12 months up to June 2017. The FIT thanks everyone who has contributed this fantastic sum to their work – a summary of which including the hundreds of research papers published can be found on the Fungal Infection Trust website.

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Update: Agnes has raised over £600 for her charities after successfully completing her run. Many thanks Agnes!

Agnes Kay has decided to run her first marathon in aid of the Fungal Infection Trust.

Agnes writes:

I decided to take a huge leap and challenge myself, with some friends spurring me on to do a half marathon. Well after many months of training in a few weeks time I’l be running my first Edinburgh Half Marathon!

More importantly I’ve decided to do this run and raise funds for two charities.

The first charity personal to my family is the Fungal Infection Trust who work tirelessly to raise monies for research into fungal infection such as the life threatening Aspergillosis – once in the lungs of a compromised person it can be fatal.

As most of my family and close friends know my father was diagnosed with a life threatening condition, Aspergillosis a couple of years ago. Fortunately with the doctors and consultants expertise, travelling for regular hospital visits between Edinburgh, Borders General and the National Aspergillosis Centre, Wythenshawe Manchester, he was prescribed with the anti fungal drugs he needed to get him back to health.

Research is carried out by the Fungal Infection Trust and I can hopefully be able to raise a significant sum to help support F.I.T continue their research into fungal infections.

Through Virgin Money Giving, you can sponsor me and donations will be quickly processed and passed to these charities. Virgin Money Giving is a not for profit organisation and will claim gift aid on a charity’s behalf where the donor is eligible for this.

Any donations will be hugely appreciated, big or small – a small donation will still help!

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After raising £2000 last year (2016) Willie Windle and Rod & the Soulchoons team at the Prince of Wales Hotel in Southport, Merseyside, UK have again chosen the Fungal Infection Trust to be the beneficiary of their event on August Bank Holiday Sunday 2017. The Fungal Infection Trust offers their thanks for Willie’s team’s continuing support, without which they would be powerless.

Willie commented:

This is a little known charity who work tirelessly to raise monies for research into fungal infection such as the life threatening Aspergillosis and once in the lungs of a compromised person,can kill.

Families & friends only become aware of this dreadful disease when somebody close to them become infected and there is no cure.

Expensive Anti Fungal Drugs (if your body can tolerate them) have to be taken daily, constant blood monitoring and regular visits to Hospitals especially the National Aspergillosis Centre, Wythenshawe, Manchester.

Research is carried out by the Fungal Infection Trust and we hope to pass on a Cheque to them to help F.I.T to continue their research into Fungal Infection.

I have Chronic Pulmomonary Aspergillosis which has caused aspergilloma’s (necrotic cavities) in my lungs especially my right lung which have fungus balls living in these ideal conditions and they like to bleed a lot.

This awful lung disease as I say is a killer and in 2014 it nearly took me….. Only for the dedication of the Cardiac and Thoracic team at Blackpool Victoria Hospital Cardiac Unit to get me well enough to eventually get better and go home ,unfortunately this wasn’t the case for John Clark, brother in law to Rod & Sue Clegg and loving husband to Janet Clark who I have got to know well over the last couple of years….

So I ask if you will help to support this years August Bank Holiday Sunday, Soulchoons at the Prince of Wales Hotel, Southport ……. Put this event in your diaries and help support our charity F.I.T.

Look after yourselves and may your health keep you well.

Willie xx

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Our fundraisers

The Fungal Infection Trust benefits from the support of personal donations from patients, carers and dedicated friends of people who have suffered from serious fungal illness. We would like to thank those supporters and please visit this link to see some of our “friends”.